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We are taking sixty 6th-12th graders and eight adults to hike 45 miles in the Grayson Highlands on a portion of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. This experience gives our students and adults the opportunity to leave behind distractions and focus on serving each other while we hike and explore the gift of God’s creation. It is a challenging, but extremely rewarding trip. We covet your prayers for our travel and our experience from July 27th- August 4th.

7th Year Hikers
Drew Branch
David Feliciano

6th Year Hikers
John Netherland
*Emily Capes
*Pam Moore

5th Year Hikers
Connor Bond
Jason Felicano
Stephanie Sharp

4th Year Hikers
TRAILBLAZERS!
Max Colbert
Megan DeBari
Luke Evans
Julie Hermann
Brady Kirby
Katie Moore
Thomas Pierce
Victoria Sharp
Travis Swann

3rd Year Hikers
Ben Carr
Matt Carr
Michael Dubose
Chandler Hoskins
Holder Hudson
Austin Keller
Andie Netherland
Gordon Pierce
Richard Trawick
Wilson Trawick
*Richard Colbert
*Denise Kirby

2nd Year Hikers
Alex Anderson
Mary Bond
Nate Bradley
Rowan Carroll-Christopher
Amanda Farr
Rebecca Farr
Rachel Girouad
Mark Hibyan
Anna Jackson
Cody Luker
Abby Morse
Blakely Noble
Chad Ratliff
Michael Stavely
Garrett Summitt
Cody Titus
Christopher Varnson
Robert Varnson
*Will Moore
*Walter Pierce

1st Year Hikers
Conner Cole
Alex DeBari
Anna Del Gallo
Elise Griffin
Ali Rae Hunt
Mitchell Lipham
Tori Marsh
James McGhee
Mallory Noble
Haley Roberts
Anna Safko
Chloe Schweigert
Hugh Sherrill
Katherine Varnson
Carmen Vickory
Rachel Warren
*Sandie Hudson
*Michael Roberts

*adult chaperone

What can the church do in response to the Deepwater Oil Spill?

It can be difficult to discern how exactly the church can respond to the devastating, man-made disaster wreaking havoc on the Gulf of Mexico. We are unsure of what we can do and we feel a responsibility to act and respond to what is happening. But what do we do? To that end we offer some perspective of how the we, the church, can respond.

We can pray…

Prayer always has been and will always be a central part of the Christian tradition. Given the nature of the environmental catastrophe currently happening in the Gulf of Mexico and the fallout that will come from it, we need to pray as a local and global community of the church. We pray for God’s intervention with the contamination of oil in the Gulf of Mexico and the damage it is causing; we pray for God’s guidance in finding a working solution to the uncontrolled spewing of oil; we pray for God’s wisdom in how to be better stewards of oil as a finite resource; and we pray for God’s protection that we might not suffer through such an event again. We invite you to be apart of the prayers for the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, all the creatures who live in it and all the people who depend on it to support themselves and their families.

Below is a prayer that we offer to you as you ask God’s intervention and blessing in the wake of such a tragic situation.

Holy God, Creator of Earth and of your children,
Creator of soil and sea and sky and the tapestries of the stars,
Forgive us when we treat this beloved planet as if we own it and can use it as we wish.
We have been too careless. We have failed to nurture the fragile life you entrusted to our keeping.
Our lifestyle of wasteful over-consumption has been insensitive to the effects we caused around the world.
We want to express our love and care for all creation.
We know that we must learn more about the problem and take effective action.
Here we stand wondering and confused because of the bounty that you have given us.
Here we stand Creator God, and we ask you to help us to care for the earth as our responsibility.
Help us to do what we know we must even at the cost of reducing our lifestyle so that others may live.
Please help us O God. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

~Adapted from prayers from the Uniting Church in Australia, Miriam Therese Winter and the Book of Common Prayer

We can act…

There are still ways we can actively reach out in response to the crisis. In Genesis, God invites humanity into a partnership to care for creation, to nurture and protect it as a king would their subjects. The second great commandment that Jesus calls all Christians to follow is to love our neighbor. When we remember these teachings from Holy Scripture we cannot help but be moved to act.

We encourage all members of the community to be vigilant and active in reporting oil that washes up on shore, wildlife that has been harmed through the oil spill or preventative measures that appear to be damaged, vandalized or working improperly. We urge all members who have had their livelihoods impacted to be proactive in filing a claim and hopefully reduce the severity of their situation. We gratefully support those persons who believe they can take a more active approach in responding to the physical situation of the oil spill and encourage those persons, whether in a volunteer or professional capacity, to work with city, state and federal forces who are already working to restore the Gulf of Mexico.

Resources in response to the oil spill.

Report Oiled Shorelines 1-866-448-5816, leave message of exact location of oiled finding.

(Important: Do not touch any substance you suspect to be oiled or oil-related. Call in the exact location for teams to investigate.)

Report Oiled Wildlife 1-866-557-1401, leave message. Messages checked hourly.

Florida Emergency Information Line 1-800-342-3557

Florida Oil Spill Information Line 1-888-337-3569

Report Boom Vandalism 1-800-320-0519 or #DEP on cell phone

Volunteer Information: 1-866-448-5816

BP Claims Hotline and Spill-Related Damage

File a claim online or call 1-800-440-0858, 8A-8P, seven days a week.

If you are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, call 1-800-280-7118.

BP Services 281-366-5511

To register as a consultant, contractor, vendor, or submit ideas on alternative response technology, services, productions or suggestions.

BP Vessels of Opportunity – register boats available to assist with response 281-366-5511

Master Vessel Charter Agreement

Vessel Requirements Checklist

*Copied from “Escambia Disaster Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill,” http://www.escambiadisasterresponse.com/ on June 2 2010.

We can change…

This event in the history of the Gulf and our nation should give us a moment to pause and ask, “How are we being good stewards of God’s creation? How can we be better stewards?” These questions are not easy to answer, but we owe it to God to wrestle with the questions. There are things we can all do to improve the quality of the Earth, including:

• Recycling everything that is available to recycle in your community

• Using compact-fluorescent bulbs in your home

• Considering the amount of electricity you use in your home

• Using reusable water bottles instead of buying cases of plastic water bottles

The point of change is not about “being green” for the sake of being green. It is about doing something that improves your relationship with God’s creation. We ask all of humanity to prayerfully and with God-centered intentions consider how they might be better stewards of the earth and change the way they live.

For further insight on how you can change your lifestyle check out http://www.togethergreen.org/ActionCenter/Default.aspx.

If you are interested please complete the form below:

This past week he has been attacking the Christian idea of social justice.  He said, “I beg you look for the words social justice or economic justice on your church Web site…If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. … Am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!”  Later, he compared Christian social justice with fascism and communism.

Christian leaders from all sides of the church have been speaking out against Beck.  There is a fuller description by ABC news.  I, however, see his point.  The radical social justice theme of Christianity is troubling.  The Old Testament is filled with troubling ideas like the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25) not to mention the prophets.  What would happen if we “let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everlasting stream” (Amos)?  It wouldn’t work out very well for me.

I wish this “social justice” theme was limited to the Old Testament, so we could explain it away with dietary laws, but Jesus has to bring it all up again.  The Sermon on the Mount (Sermon on the Plain in Luke) is terrifying—blessed are the poor?  Not to mention Jesus’ ministry theme in Luke 4.  If only Mary could have sang a different song (Luke 1).  This year as my church is focusing on the Gospel of Luke (from the lectionary), it has surprised me to find such a focus on the social implications of the gospel.  I have written a study guide called The Gospel According to Saint Luke: A Participatory Study, that goes in further detail on how the Jubilee theme is core to Jesus’ message in Luke’s gospel.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Christianity was only about spiritual matters?  Loving God would be much easier if we didn’t have to love our neighbors.  Unfortunately “social justice” is not peripheral to the gospel it is central.  Maybe Beck misspoke, or maybe he said what we’ve all been thinking—following Jesus is hard work—too hard.    Reading the story of the rich young ruler (Luke 18), can keep you up at night.  One really can’t blame Beck or anyone else for wanting to go a different direction, the real challenge is for those that want to follow him.  Unfortunately, this blog posting will eventually find its way to my church website and it contains the words “social justice”.  Run as fast as you can.

I’ve been collecting every Passion worship collection since the inception in 1998. The conferences have developed and introduced worship leaders David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, Charlie Hall,
and most recently Kristian Stanfill and Steve Fee. My favorite Chris Tomlin songs have generally been the new live recordings found on the Passion worship collections, going back to “We Fall Down,”
“Enough,” “How Great Is Our God” and “God Of This City.” This collection starts with the great new Chris Tomlin worship anthem “Awakening,” which I hope will soon be a song I’ll be singing with fellow
believers, along with the 2 other new Chris Tomlin songs “Our God” and “Chosen Generation.” “Awakening” has a great worshipful chorus which ends with “Let Your will be done in me,” which is the cry of my heart as well. There are 8 new songs on this 12 song collection. The new songs “Say, Say” by Kristian Stanfill, “King of Heaven” by Charlie Hall and “Where The Spirit of the Lord Is” by Christy Nockels
and Chris Tomlin are all upbeat, catchy and worshipful.

The standout songs for me are back to back starting with my favorite song of last year, “How He Loves” as recorded by David Crowder*Band. The energy and power of this song are amazing as a studio
version, but the song was truly meant to be experienced live and loud, make sure you turn up the volume when you listen to “How He Loves” and you’ll be drained as you sing along with this amazing song. The new Christy Nockels song “Healing Is In Our Hands” gives me chills. I could hardly imagine Christy could out-sing herself after “Hosanna,” but don’t miss this amazing new song. You’ll be mesmerized by the power and beauty of the lyrics and Christy’s incredible vocals.

The collection also includes great live versions of “You Alone Can Rescue” by Matt Redman and “Rise and Sing” by Fee which are wonderful new worship songs from albums released by those artists last
year. David Crowder*Band adds another new recording with “Like A Lion” and I was thrilled to hear Hillsong United’s “With Everything” as the closing song, which is a great way to cap off this stellar album.

Closing Thoughts
These are some of the best new original worship songs of the past few years. If you want to experience a worship “awakening,” then you can’t go wrong with the biggest names in the business. Tomlin, Stanfill, Crowder, Nockels, Hall, Redman, Fee and Hillsong United are all in top form on this excellent Passion:Awakening album, easily the best in this great series.

Considering themselves more of a ministry than a band, Pocket Full of Rocks has been touring across the country for 14 years. “A lot of what I’ve been sharing out on the road deals with losing your religion and finding relationship with an amazing God,” said lead singer Michael Farren in a press release. “Much of our message is that you’ve got to make more than noise. It’s easy to just walk into a room, sing the songs on the screen and lift your hands; but if you can walk out and not be transformed or see the world around you transformed, then that wasn’t worship. Real worship comes with change, both in you, and the world around you. If you encounter a real God in a real setting of worship, you can’t leave the same.”

“Alive” opens up the album with a catchy rock track that you may have already heard on the radio. It’s about letting the rest of the world know that you have a love inside you that has made you alive, and it’s a love that everyone can have; we just can’t keep it to ourselves. This is an awesome song, because not only does this reflect how we need to be living as Christians, but the reason for becoming a Christian band in the first place should be to share the love of God in a loud way with the rest of the world. “Strong” acknowledges the truth that we are only human and weak. We face pain and uncertainty, and sometimes flat out feel like failures. But it is in our weakness that Christ can best prove His strength, if we just step aside and let Him. Hold on to Christ; He will fight our battles and give us strength when we have nothing left to give.

“Jesus Died My Soul to Save” is my personal favorite on this album. “I stand amazed at your love for me /that lonely night in Gethsemane. / The sinners heart can’t help but thrill to hear you pray / God not my will./ What depth of love! / What reach of Grace…/ to sing yet louder the refrain / Jesus died, my soul to Save.” The music starts out calm and simple, with just a guitar to accompany the words, then slowly builds to a powerful chorus. It ends with a quiet line from the sweet old hymn, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” As the song slips away, the excited chords of “Let our God be Praised” comes up right on its heals to make sure the listener is still awake and ready to keep worshiping the Lord.

“Let it Rain,” originally recorded by musical artist Michael W. Smith, is brought to life again and finally added to “More than Noise,” after the band having sung in live in concerts for 10 years. Evoking word
pictures of refreshing rain and a deep calm pouring over the soul, this song is a beautiful and very fitting addition to this band’s third release. The musicality on this song is brilliant. The soft yet uplifting
instrumentals add to the feel of serenity being expressed through the words.

Madison Farren, Michael’s 14-year-old daughter, co-wrote “When Love Whispers Your Name” with her father, making this song very meaningful, as it comes directly from the perspective of a teenager. “Our
base theme is that God loves you a whole lot, and religion has made you blind to it. So what does God’s love actually look like? We wanted to write a song about grace, and what Love does through it. Both
verses of the song are based on situations we are aware of.” Michael Farren stated in a press release.

Closing Thoughts
Overall, an excellent album. Listening to this, and allowing your heart to worship God through the music will be a source of encouragement in your day. He is our strength and support, our wings. We are so
blessed to be the children of God. This album reminds me that worship it not a duty nor obligation, but a blessing.

If you like the new, softer sounding “Forgiven,” then you will absolutely love the entire new album. Personally, I’d say Sanctus Real’s songs have matured along with the band members, similar to Switchfoot in that way. However, if you’re looking for edgy rock songs like “Everything About You,” “I’m Not Alright” and “Turn On The Lights” you won’t really find them on this album with maybe the exception of “Take Over Me,” which is one of the rockers on the album. If you liked radio hits “Something Heavenly,” “Face Of Love” and “Don’t Give Up,” then you’ll love this album, which is chock full of radio-friendly yet very personal and engaging songs including “These Things Take Time,” “Lead Me” and “The Redeemer.” “These Things Take Time” got me moving in a similar way to hit song “Don’t Give Up.”  “The Way The World Turns” completes a trilogy of songs that all focus on the topic of faithfulness and the challenges in our walks as Christians to accept and give forgiveness, and also seeking Truth and Hope. “Lead Me” is a surefire hit and is a musical response to Matt Hammitt’s wife Sarah imploring him to be a better spiritual leader in their marriage and for their two young children.  Having been married for 15 years and having three young daughters, this song moves me the most on the entire album.  This song is a “must own” for all husbands, fathers and young men looking for an honest portrayal of the prayer of a Christian man asking God to lead their lives.  I could see this song being a worship anthem for Promise Keepers.  “The Redeemer,” “Take Over Me” and “I Want To Get Lost” are another trilogy of songs that focus on the central themes of asking God to inhabit our inner being and truly allow the power of the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. “’Til I Got To Know You,” “Dear Heart,” and closing song “Keep My Heart Alive” are another great trilogy of songs that focus on the theme of relying solely on the love of Jesus to truly mold our hearts and make us more like Him. “I’ll Show You How To Live” is another personal song like “Lead Me,” but written to Matt’s children in the style of “Boys (Lesson One)” by Jars of Clay.  For me, “Forgiven,” “These Things Take Time,” “Lead Me,” “The Redeemer,” “’Til I Got To Know You” and “I’ll Show You How To Live” are among the best songs ever recorded by this great band. I ranked We Need Each Other my #2 album of 2008 and expect I’ll find Pieces of a Real Heart in a similar position in 2010. Best overall album by one of the premier bands in Christian music.

Closing Thoughts
This album is very personal and engaging. If you like Leeland, MercyMe and Jars of Clay, then you will enjoy Sanctus Real, whose musical style I consider a great blend of alternative rock and worship. I expect multiple hit songs to emerge from this album. Sanctus Real has really hit the mark with Pieces of a Real Heart.

That is exactly that same story we have in the lectionary this week.  It is hard to imagine that God would take us back after all that we have done.  Gustavo Gutierrez said that sin is “a breach of friendship between God and others.”  We have sinned like the prodigal son and our friendship with God is broken.  But the story is not really about the son, it is about a father that takes us back no matter what.  That type of radical grace is scandalous.  When Jesus was challenged by the Scribes and Pharisees in his acceptance of sinners, he tells them this famous story about how God accepts sinners even the most difficult ones like the Pharisees, the elder brother, and us.  God says with tears in his eyes, “I will take you”.